Bethlehem Church To House Head Start

The Head Start program in Bethlehem saw a light at the end of the tunnel Sunday when St. Peter's Lutheran Church Council voted to allow two of its classrooms to be used for Head Start's preschool.

The preschool program has been in limbo since early this month, when negotiations with another Bethlehem church broke down, and Lehigh Valley Head Start Executive Director Pat Levin said the program would be discontinued if classroom space could not be found.

Elizabeth Elterich, director of Christian education at St. Peter's, said the agreement with Head Start will be completed when the church's congregation is notified and the financial arrangements are worked out.

The church has two classrooms that would be appropriate for Head Start's program, Elterich said, and these have been offered for the classes. "The congregation is reaching out to these children that need this opportunity" for education, she said.

Elterich said she has been exploring the possibility of offering space to Head Start since about two weeks ago, when Head Start asked them for help.

Head Start provides health, education, and social services for children from low-income families.

Elterich said about 40 children could be accommodated in the two rooms, which would be available any time after Nov. 6, when the church will be holding a bazaar.

Head Start's Bethlehem program serves 100 children, and Levin said the program still needs three more classrooms. She has been talking to various organizations and officials, including those of Bethlehem and the Bethlehem Area School District.

"The community has been responsive," she said last week, describing those who have tried to help the program find space. No other concrete offers have been received yet, however.

The Rev. Edward Dufresne, pastor of St. Peter's, said, "Because of the shortness of time that we had, we only had time to talk with the leadership of the congregation, but we tried to speak with as many people as possible. We found that most folks felt that, when you have children in need and we can be of help, then that's the right thing for church people to do."

At St. Peter's, Head Start will be responsible for any "elbow work," such as moving toys, that may be required between the church's Sunday pre- school and Head Start's weekday activities, Elterich explained. Levin added that the rooms still must be licensed by the state for preschool use.

"It's important for this to work that we have good communications among church people, Head Start, and the church leadership. We're doing everything we can to be sure that happens," Rev. Dufresne said.

Anyone who can help the program find more classroom space should call 691-1819.